There is a lot of advice online for people going from renting to buying their first home—or juggling buying and selling a house at the same time. But what about homeowners who are ready to say goodbye to homeownership?
While April and May are great months to put a home on the market, selling a house in spring is not the only option. The St. Louis area is still a seller’s market, which means buyers are out there all year long waiting for the right home to become available.
Following a few strategies can increase your chances of selling your home this winter and ending up in your new home before springtime.
It’s no surprise that some sellers don’t want to leave their appliances behind when moving to their next home. After all, they may have recently purchased an innovative smart fridge or a double oven they always dreamed of, and aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to it. But selling a house without a refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher might be a big turnoff for buyers – particularly if they expect the house to come with appliances.
It’s no surprise that one of the main questions real estate agents get this time of year is “Can I sell my house during the holiday season?” People are busy shopping, baking, and throwing parties – and it does require extra effort to keep a bustling house picked up and ready to show at the drop of a hat.
But there are also plenty of advantages to selling in December.
When most homeowners commit to selling a house, they plan to walk away with a profit. Ideally, the asking price is more than what they bought it for, allowing them to pay off their remaining mortgage and have a down payment for their next purchase. But selling a house is not as simple as sticking a sign in the yard and accepting a check from a buyer.
Buyers expect to move into a house that is clean and empty. And those selling a home often add a thorough cleaning to their to-do list. Most get a head start on cleaning to get the home ready to put on the market.
“It’s what’s inside that counts” is great advice. But when it comes to selling a home, it’s forgetting something important—curb appeal. A house might be absolutely gorgeous, but if it looks bad from the street, it could be hard to get people interested. A pleasing exterior can determine whether someone stops in to an open house or contacts the realtor, or drives right past.
Can sellers get the price they want when selling a home on a budget? Absolutely! If the house is in great shape, upfront expenses to sell are nothing. If the home needs sprucing up, knowing how to prioritize improvements boosts the return on the investment.
Real estate agents hear these questions most often from sellers on a budget:
There are a number of reasons why buyers might prefer homes that are not in a subdivision. Perhaps they would like a larger lot, prefer more privacy, or do not want to pay Homeowners Association fees. Even when they know what type of property they are looking for, it can be difficult to weed out subdivision homes when searching for available real estate. Working with an experienced real estate agent can help to pinpoint homes that match the buyer’s criteria and where to find them.
In today's real estate climate, homes sell quickly…and some sell well above the asking price. However, the trend of selling a home above the asking price stalled this spring. In the first quarter of 2023, buyers paid 99.9% of the list price for single-family homes in St. Louis. This summer, in the prime selling season, buyers probably will pay more than the asking price for homes in desirable neighborhoods. Homeowners who want to reel in big offers have three home pricing strategies to consider.
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